Bedsore Stages in Washington DC Nursing Homes

If you or someone you love developed bedsores in a Washington DC nursing home, you may be wondering if you have any legal options. Negligent nursing home staff or physicians may be responsible for the development of bedsores and failure to provide adequate treatment as the bedsores progressed.

You expect that nursing home patients will receive adequate medical treatment, including wound care. Knowing how pressure sores develop and progress through stages may be integral to your claim. Speak with a medical malpractice attorney today about bedsore stages in Washington DC nursing homes.

Four Stages of Bedsores

A medical professional may use “stages” to describe the severity of a condition. There are four main stages of bedsores, which indicate how deep the wound appears to be.

Bedsores begin as painful red marks, which could heal within days with the proper care. Since bedsores typically develop from the pressure of body parts against a bed or wheelchair, repositioning could help to prevent the progression of the ulcer to more advanced stages. At Stage 1, the ulcer has only invaded the top layer of skin.

At Stage 2, the skin is broken and there might be pus or fluid emerging from the ulcer. The broken skin could lead to an infection if the patient does not receive the proper care.

Stage 3 bedsores may be warm, red, and surrounded by pus. At this stage, the ulcer has deepened into the tissue beneath the skin. Some tissue may have died by this point and there may be a foul odor.

Stage 4 bedsores are the most severe. Stage 4 pressure sores might show signs of infection and skin may be black. Patients who have stage 4 bedsores might have exposed muscles or ligaments in the affected area. Surgery may be required for an individual who has Stage 4 pressure ulcers.

Medical Negligence in Nursing Home Bedsore Cases

Nursing home medical records can contain relevant information regarding liability in a case of Stage I, II, III, or IV bedsores. Nursing home staff or physicians’ failure to meet the standard of care could cause bedsores to develop and progress to the more severe stages.

If a nursing home patient receives adequate medical treatment for a decubitus ulcer at an early stage, the wound could heal rather than worsening. Simple actions such as repositioning the patient and dressing the wound could be sufficient to prevent the progression of bedsores.

If nursing home staff or physicians fail to prevent the progression of bedsores, a nursing home patient may face:

  • Amputation
  • Bone infection
  • Blood infection

Stage 4 bedsores can be life-threatening, but they are largely preventable. A medical expert could provide an opinion regarding the care which should have been provided to the nursing home patient under the circumstances.

How an Attorney Could Help Regarding Bedsore Stages in DC Nursing Facilities

In order to determine if nursing home staff or physicians were negligent and how that negligence may have led to a patient’s injury, you might need a seasoned medical malpractice attorney to review the records and investigate the claim.

You could be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages, if nursing home staff caused an injury due to their negligence. Contact a compassionate medical malpractice attorney now regarding bedsore stages in Washington DC nursing homes.